Holding device for piece goods in suspended lines



June 21, 1932 M. ANGERPOINTNER I 1,864,1 14

HOLDING DEVICE FOR PIECE GOODS IN SUSPENDED LINES June 21, 1932 M. ANGERPOINTNR lHOLDING DEVICEv FOR PIECE GOODS IN SUSPENDED LINES Filed July l0, 1951 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 21, 1932 ,UNITED -s-TATl-:s PATENT oFFlc-Ej n 'MATTHIAS ANGEEPOINTNEE, or Dumon-NEAR NomaxorING, SWEDEN i HOLDING DEVICE Fon PIECE Goons YIN SUSPENDED LINES Application filed July lo, 1931. serial No. 550,023...

invention relates to holding devices iron on which the whole holder or carrier for the transportation of piece goods by susrolls by means of two wheels or rollers 2, 3 pended railways. journalled by means of ball bearings on jour- The chief object of the invention is to create nals 41, 5. These journals are fixed in forks sufch holding devices for piece goods, such as 6 whose upper ends by lneans of pins 7 are: 55 bags, bales, packages, etc., having a simple rotatably journalled on a carrying part 9 alld reliable construction and also adapted resting on the upper sides of the prongs of. for automatic loading and unloading, while the forks 6by intermediate axial ball bearings y.being'cheap'tomanufacture. 8 through which the pins 7 pass. Thus, the "A further object of the invention is to crerollers 2, 3 roll and also turn (on the bearings o ate aholding device to-hold the piece of goods 8) in curves very easily, because these two iirmly,when in holding position, but adapted movements are facilitated by the ball bearto be released rapidly, when the loa-d is to be ings. discharged. The gripping members of the On the carrying piece 9 a pin 10 is rotat- 4 ldevice areY moved apart very rapidly and ably journalled which` is secured to a carryof, consequently all'risk for the piece goods to ing armll from which the gripping device hook on to the jaws or be scratched or torn or holder proper hangs. VThe parts 2`9 by them is eliminated. A further object of forma wagon rolling-on the suspension line 1.l .thisinvention is to make it possible for the On a shaft 16 between 4this carrying arm 11 l SZ()A gripping members to swing freely, when reand a second arm or projection 17 a roller 18 70 leased, so that said gripping members may, is rotatably journalled engaging the rail 1 without any inconvenience, be made very from below to prevent the wagon and the short even if the maximum width of the gripholder from derailing. A gripping arm 19 is l .ping jaws is great. Thus, the whole holder attached to the carrying arm 11 and the arm er carrier lnay be made very lowV to save 17 by means of bolts 2O to form a rigid strucspace. This is very important, especially, ture together with said arms. The gripping when'the holder is used for storing devices arm` l19 consists of twosidepieces 19, 19 Aseof the type described in my co-pending U. S. cured to each other by use of the arm 17 and patent application, Serial No. 550,022 filed a cross piece 19a,fto which a jaw 21 is' sev1'40'at the same date as this application. cllred preferably having a shapeiit for the 8 One embodiment of my invention is shown pieces of goods to be held. s in the annexed drawings. A second gripping `arln is rotatably jour- F'ig. 1 shows an end v iew of a loady carrier nalled on a'bolt 22 and consists of an upper ...in accordance with my invention, as seen in inner part23 and a lower outer part 24 articui the direction of the suspension line, the jaws lately jointed with the upper part 23 by. 8,-, i

beingclosed. means of two co-axial journals 25. The parts 1 Fi shows a corresponding side view 23 and 24 thus form an articulated two-part (seen from the left in Fig. 1). gripping arm. Thelower part 24 carries a Fig. 3 shows a partial end view, analogous jaw 26 adapted to cooperate with the jaw 21. 40 to thatshown in Fig. 1 but showing the jaws Said two parts of the second gripping arm 9V pushed apart. consist 'of side pieces 23, 23 and 24,211,1espec- Fig 4 is a detail view showing theshape tively, said last-mentioned pieces being inandjournalling of the two-part gripping arm. terconnectedby a cross-piece 27 carrying the Fig. 5 isa horizontal section on the line jaw26- f i V--V in Fig. 1 and shows the operating lever The siden pieces 23,523 are provided with us and the locking means in detail and on a largprojections 28 in which slots or grooves 29 er scale. for a locking bolt 30 are made. Said bolt'isy ,Figa 6 is a vertical section on the line looselyplacedbetween said two side pieces VI-VI in Fig. 1, also on a larger scale. 23 and prevented by flanges or washersBOa In the drawings 1 indicates a rail of flat at both ends from lfalling out of the slots 29.' loo Said bolt is also embraced by two loop-shaped members 31, whose shape is best seen from Figs. 1 and 3. The openings in the members 31 show three notches 32, 33 and 34 of such a size that the bolt 30 fits snugly in any of these notches. Each of the side pieces 24 carries a projection 35 at the base of which a notch 36. (Fig. 4) is made having a size corresponding to the diameter of the bolt`30.

The members 31 are rotatably journalled on a pin 37and'are keptiapart 'byan intermediate distance member 38. The pin 37 is iixed on a die 39 rotatably journa-lled between two link members 41, 41 at oneV end of said link members while the other ends of said link members are Vrotatably j ournalled on the journals 25."The die 39v lia-sa transverse hole throughawhich an operating lever 42 is loosely inserted. and'may be moved in 'its longitu-l dinaldirection. .Said operating vlever is# threaded to a part of its length and normally lockedzto the die 39by use oftwonuts 43 screwed onV the operating lever on both sides of said die and engaging the latter. The operating. lever is somewhat curved inthe einbodiment shown. YIt may consist of two parallelarms, ifldesired. At the outer end of the operating lever a roller 44 is rotatably journalled andthe 'oppositeor kinner end of said operating lever is rotatably journalled on a pin` 45..between two projections 46, 46 projectingfrom theside-pieces 19, 19 of the. u-ndividedgripping arm.v

A- tension spring 47 is arranged between vthe pin 37 and-.one Vofthe side pieces 24. The

motion of the part 24-of the two-part grip: ping arm inrelation to the part 23 of said gripping arm-is limited by abutments 48 on the side pieces 24. Furthermore, abutments 48aand 486 arerprovided on the side pieces 24 to limit the motion ofthe link members 41 v in relation to said last-mentioned side pieces. When. the jaws are opened, the link members 41 ywill abut against the abutments 48a torotate the part 24 .of the two-part gripping arm in relation to the part 23 of the .same arm. Thus, the'jaws are rapidly moved apart even if nojload is held between them. i When the gripping arms are moved againsteach other .to yclose the jawsl said link members 41 will abutagainst vthe abutments 487; and cause the parts of the two-part gripping arm to rotate untilthe abutment 48 engages the part 23. The abutment :486 also serves to. limit the downward motion of. the operating lever A42.

The device described acts asfollows: When the parts are' in the positions shown'A in Fig. 1. the jaws Aare closedL and locked. This locking is effected by the operating lever 42 and the bolt 30, in as much as saidboltrests inthenotches 36 and thus keepsthe .part 24 rigidly. locked to the part 23 of the two-part gripping arm, said part 24 engaging the abutT ments 48 andY 35 andbeingthus kept in position so that the parts-23,A 24 act as one single link'm'embers 41 and also by the abut-ment lever 42 would keep the jaws and gripping arms locked even-if the'special locking device 485. Itis to be observed thatthe` operating 28-,36 was not provided for.

"IV'hen the hold ofthe jaws is to be released to free the load held between them, the operating lever 42 is moved upwards. .This is done either by hand or automatically. In said latter case the roller 44 is caused to be liftedby a stationary operating rail 49 (Fig.

1) arranged obliquely beside the rail 1, when the roller 44 engages said rail 49 at the forward motion of the holder on the rail 1. Then the roller 44 thus is lifted, it swings the operating lever 42` upwards on the journal 45, thus causing the-link members 41gto swing on thejjournal. 40 andto move the journalsV 25 which are then moved outfrom the journal 45, so that the jaws 21, 26.are moved apart. Simultaneously, the members 31 are moved upwards and push upwardsand inwards the l locking bolt 30 resting in the notches 32,:thus

' lifting said bolt out of the notches 36, so that the locking. between the parts 23 and 24 of theYtwo-partgripping arm is released. Imf mediately after the beginning of the upward motion of the operating lever 42 the part 24 f of the two-part gripping arm is freedvand Inay rotate freely on the journals 25. Thevr piece of goods held between the jaws 21 and 26 will be momentarily freed in this moment y and push the free part 24 outwards. Consequently, the jaws are opened'veryrapidly to theirmaximum width and the piece of goods is effectively prevented from beinghooked on to and possibly torn by the jaws anda correct operation is always secured. When the operating lever is thus moved upwards the link members 41 will engage the abutments 48a and aid in swinging the part.24 in relation to the part 23, so that a rapid opening motion is attained. Even if nofload is. placed between the jaws 21, 26,.the latterwill yet be opened positively byrmeans of the abutment 48a.

It is evident that the distance between the jaws in lthe locking position shown in Fig. 1 or. in other words, the minimum width of the jaws may simply and easily be 'adjusted .Grip and hold objects of very dif` bleways, etc.

sume a different angular position,\a`lso slideupwards so that said bolt-slides out of the notches 32 and into the notches 33"or even- 34.- After this the operating lever can continue its movement upwards and move the jaws 21, 26 still fartherapart, independent of the fact that the upward movement of the bolt 30 is limited by the upper ends'ofthey slots 29'- Now the various parts have the positions illust-rated in Fig.

When the operating level is pusheddown, the various parts of the holder are moved to their locking positions again. The spring .47

will press the part 24 ofthe two-partk gripping arm to engage the part 23 of said gripping arm tightly by the abutments 48, thus causing the notches 361to'coincide with the lower ends of the slots or'grooves 29. After "tion. Independently of this, the link inembers 41 will, however, abut against the abutment 48?; to turn the part 24 iii relation to the part 23, until the abutment 48 engages the part 23. After this the parts 23, 24 form a rigid structure, constituting the second grip ping arm. The engagement of the link members 41 with the journals 25 cause at the same time this gripping arm 23, 24 to be returned to the closed position and to be locked in this position by the operating lever. The downward movement of the operating lever to close and lock the jaws as described may be efected by hand or automatically, for instance by a spring (not shown) or an oblique rail, similar to the rail 49 but engaging the roller 44 from above (not shown).

In the embodiment shown, more than one different device is used for the same purpose, particularly for locking the parts, for moving the parts 23, 24 together to form a rigid unit and to move them apart. The holder will evidently function even if such doublings of the devices are not at hand. Particularly the locking device 28-36 may be omitted, if

desired.

The holders or carriers in accordance with this invention may be used in combination with wagons for suspended lines of various types, such as suspended railways, aerial ca- Their motion along the line may be originated in any suitable or wellknown way. For instance, the holders or their wagons may be attached to a rope or chain running along the rail 1 or may be engaged by catching devices attached to Vsuch rope or chain. In this latter case side-rails and switches may be provided so that the holders with their loads may be switched to diierent rails and distributed in any desired -The rail 1 mayalso be slanting so that the holders are moved forward bygravity;l A special plant based upon this principle is described in my copending U. S. patent application Serial No. 550,022 mentioned above.

Because suspension lines having holders in accordance with the invention require very' little space and may easily be constructedfto f follow almost any vertical or horizontal curves desired, such lines are very useful'for solving many transportation problems which otherwise would cause very high costs.

What I claim is v1. In a suspension line, a wagon movabley fao" alongy the line, an undivided gripping arm on said wagon, a two-part gripping'arm, an

articulate joint between the two parts of said arm, an articulate joint between one of said parts and said undivided gripping arm,`an operating lever rotatably j ournalled on said undivided arm, link members between said operating lever and said joint between said two parts, and an abutment on one of said parts to engage the other of said parts, whenvk in the locked position.

2'. In a suspension line, a wagon movable.

along the line, an undivided gripping arm on said wagon, a two-part'gripping arm, an

articulate joint between the two parts of said arm", an articulate joint between one of saidy parts and said undivided gripping arm, an operating lever rotatably j ournalled on said undivided arm,y link members. between said operating lever and said joint between said two parts, an abutment on one of said two parts to engage the other of said parts, when in the locked position,y and a locking device between said two parts on the oppositeside of said two-part gripping arm in relation to said abutment.

3. In a suspension line, 'a wagon movable on rollers along the line, an undivided gripping 'arm on said wagon, a two-part gripping.

arm, one or more coaxial journals tok form an articulate joint between said two parts of said divided gripping arm, an articulate joint between one of saidparts and said undivided gripping arm, an operating vlever rotatably` journalled on said undivided arm, link mempers( between said operating lever and said journals, an abutment on one of saidtwoparts to engage the other of said parts, when the gripping arms are in their locked position, and one or more additional abutments on the outer one of said two parts, which' is journalled on said journalsonly, said additional abutments being adapted to limit the motion of said link members in relation to said last mentioned outer part.

4. In a suspension line, a wagon movable on rollers along the line, an undivided gripping arm yon, said wagon, a two-part gripping arm, one or more'coaxial journals to forman articulate joint between said two parts ofsaid divided gripping arm, an articulatejoint be- 'izo tween one-of said parts and said undivided gripping arm, an operating lever rotatably journalled on said undivided arm, link members betweenv said operating lever and said tfjournals, an abutment on one of said two parts to engage the other ot said parts, when the gripping arms are in their` locked position, slots in the inner one of said` two parts, which is articulately jointed with the undi- *19, vided gripping arm, a locking bolt'slidably journalled in saidislots, and loop-shaped catching members connected with said operating lever and engaging said locking bolt to mover it tothe locking position between said 155ztwo parts. of the two-part gripping arm and to release. it therefrom.

5. AIn a suspension line, a wagon movable n rollers along the line, an undivided gripping arm on said wagon, a two-part gripping I arm, one or more coaxial journals to form an fjournalled on said lundivided arm, link memarticulate joint between said two parts of said divided gripping arm, an articulate joint between one of said parts and said undivided gripping arm, an operating lever rotatably bers between said operating lever and said journalsfpan abutment on one of said two parts to engage the other of said parts,y when the gripping arms are in'vtheir locked posi- 391; tionfslots in the inner one of said-two parts,

$0 i A'6. In a suspension line,"a wagon movable on which is articulately jointedlwith the `undivided gripping arm, a locking bolt slidable in said slots. loop-shaped catching members connected with said operating lever and engag- 3511mg said locking bolt to'push it into lock-ing position between said two parts of the twopart gripping arm and to releaseit therefrom, and notches on said catching members toz engage said locking bolt.

rollers along the line, an undivided gripping arm on said wagon, a two-part gripping arm, one or more coaxial journals to form anarticulate jointbetween said two parts of said 4Q id ivided gripping arm, an articulate joint between one of saidvparts and said undivided gripping arm, an operating llever rrotatably journalled on said undivided arm, link members ybetween said operatinglever and said qjournals,A an abutment on` one of said vtwo parts to engage the other of said parts, when the gripping arms are intheir locked position, anda tension spring between said-operating lever and the'outer one oi said two parts 55. lof the divided grippingarin, which is jour- 00. Zticulate nailed 'on said ournals only. s

7. In a suspension line, a wagon movable along the line, an undivided gripping arm on on said operating lever, nuts screwed on said operatinglever to lock said die in any position on said lever,.link members between said die and said joint between said two parts, and an abutment on one of said parts to engage the other of said parts, when the gripping arms are in the lockedposition. Y

8.. In asuspension line,a wagon movable along the line, an undivided gripping arm on said wagon, a two-part gripping arm, an articulate joint between the two parts of said two-partl gripping arnnan articulate joint between one of said parts and said undivided gripping arm, an operating lever rotatably journalled on said undivided arm, linlr membersbetween said operating lever and said j ointbetween said two parts, an abutment on one of said parts to engage the other of said parts, when the grippingl arms are in the locked position, and oblique stationary rails v tovactuate said operating lever.

InV testimony whereof I have signed my n ame. 

